Nectar absondcrnde Driiscn. --.- 



plants in Europe. Darwin states that there is good evidence that the absence of 

 glands in the leaves of peaches, nectarines, and apricots leads to mildew ("Animals 

 and Plants under Domestication," vol. II. p. 231). 



Darwin refers at the same place to the variations of the glands of the leaves 

 in the above-mentioned fruit trees and I may add that they are extremely variable 

 on the cherry, being sometimes absent, sometimes on the stalk and sometimes on 

 the blade of the leaf. The young leaf in its earliest stage, before it expands, has 

 a complete fringe of them, thus bearing out Mr. Francis Darwin's theory that the 

 are homologous with the serration-glands of Reinke. 



May I suggest to some of your corespondents that information as to how 

 far north in Great Britain or in Europe the glands on the above fruit trees are 

 attended by ants and especially if the wild cherry (which I have not had an 

 opportunity of observing) is so attended, would be of great interest. 



Cornwall House, Ealing, June 8 1877. Thomas Belt. 



